Monday, June 29, 2015

2015

Reynolds’ Rockin’ Raptors,
I am thrilled to have such a wonderful group of students coming to my
class this year! Fourth Grade is very exciting! During this year, many
concepts are introduced, reviewed, and built upon from the previous
years! I believe that the first step for a successful school experience
is helping each child discover that he or she is a valued person and
member of the classroom body. I pledge to treat your child with dignity
and respect. It is important to me that your child love school! If,
for some reason, you notice your child is not feeling this way, please
let me know. I am more than willing to do what I can to help with the
situation. I look forward to working with you and your Fourth Grader!
Together we can make this one of the most successful and memorable years
ever!

Class Blog: If you access our class blog once a week, you will be
informed on everything you need to know. If you do not have the
internet, please let me know and I will give your child a hard copy.
Please email me to let me now that you read through this disclosure. That way I'll have your email address, and will be able to send you my blog each week. To access my blog: Go to Iron County School District. Click on
Schools, click on South, Click on teachers, click on Mrs. Reynolds
picture. My email address is karla.reynolds@ironmail.org

Reading: We have a new Literature Program called "Amplify." Most of the homework is a reading passage from it. This will go towards your child's nightly reading minutes. It is important that your child read at least 30 min. each
day, from a book on his/her level. 15 min. should be read out loud, to
an older person for clarification of vocabulary etc. and 15 min. in
silence. Mark the time read each day on the monthly reading calendar. At
the end of the month, please total the minutes read, add a parents
signature, and turn it into me on the first day of the following month.
We will learn about the different genre of reading.

Book Reports: Book Reports will be given on a different genre each
month. The first book report will be a “Mystery Book Report.” It will
be due the first week of October. I will inform you well in advance,
what type of genre, how, and when the report will be given.

Spelling: A “Spelling List” will be sent home each week and also put on
the blog. We will work in class on spelling and vocabulary. The weekly
“Spelling Test” will be given each Friday. Sorry, but spelling tests
can not be made up. :( Vocabulary words will be used from our Math,
Science, Social Studies, and class reading books. We will be having a
grade level, as well as a school wide “Spelling Bee,” at the end of the
year.

Math: We have a new math program called “Go Math!” I’m excited about
this program, because your child will work in a reproducible workbook,
that they may take home. We also do ADD, Mountain Math, and use Daily
Math as homework. Using a variety of math resources will assist
students in learning the Utah State Core for 4th grade. We also have a
“Multiplication Tables Chart” that will be tested on each Friday!

Science: We will start the year exploring “Land Before Time.” We will
explore the Scientific Method. We will study the Earth, different Land
Zones, Dinosaurs, Fossils, Rocks and Minerals, Indigenous Plants of
Utah,The Water Cycle, Weather, Animals and Insects.

Social Studies: We will study Utah’s history. Starting with the
symbols and counties of Utah. We will move to American Indians, Spanish
Explorers, Mountain Men, and the Utah Pioneers. "Utah Studies Weekly,"
is a fantastic newspaper addition that teaches these topics.

Language Arts & Writing: Students are given Daily Language lessons,
Mountain Language, and writing activities. We will write letters,
poetry, Journal Jots, stories, persuasive advertisements, tall tales,
compare/contrast, descriptive, Haikus, Cinquains, limericks, idioms, and
writing of students individual interests. We will use our new program "Amplify," to
improve writing skills. Monthly Journal Jots will be done in class, then
taken home for you as a parent, to critique and send back to class each
month.

Homework: Reading at least 30 minutes each night. Daily Math Spiral
practice sheet, Amplify Literature work, and anything that was not finished in class, spelling,
multiplication tables, and extra work where needed.

Grade Printouts: Sent home or emailed 2 times a quarter. Please visit
"Power School," weekly to keep-up-to date on your child's grades and
missing assignments. The website location, your child's confidential ID
and password was sent home to you in your welcome back to school
letter. Please keep it in a safe place, and refer to it often.

Organizational Skills are reinforced in 4th grade. Each student is
responsible for his/her own work. If a child's assignment is missing,
they may visit the "Extra's Cart," to find a copy. I make 5 extra
copies of each assignment. If the extras are all gone, the score
remains a zero. I am not able to make extra copies for individual
students. If this becomes a chronic problem for a particular student, I
will be contacting the parent to come up with a plan to solve the
problem.

Attendance: Attendance is crucial to the success of each child. Please
do what you can, to schedule lessons, Dr. appointments, and vacations
outside of school time. If you need to pick up your child during school
hours, please check them out at the office first. If your child is
absent, the work that was done during the day, will be put on his/her
desk to complete when they return. Your child may bring this work home
to complete, then return it to school ASAP.

Behavior Policy and Procedures: Each child, by law, has the equal
opportunity to learn. Therefore, students are expected to demonstrate
good behaviors each day. Students are expected to follow the teacher's
directions promptly, and with a good attitude. They are expected to
treat others with respect, and take responsibility for their own
actions. When students comply with these expectations, they earn the
right to stay in the "Class Cluster." If after three-strikes, or verbal
warnings, for misbehavior, the student will be moved away from the
cluster, and become an "Outlier." The student must earn their way back,
into the "Cluster." If for some reason the student continues to be
non-compliant when he/she is an "outlier," threes more strikes, and he
will be referred to Mr. Oldroyd, and the parent will be contacted. A
behavior plan will be put in place. If the child becomes an "Outlier," a
second time, the child will be referred to the "Skill Building"
program.:(

Sharing: In 4th grade, we do not have time for a regular sharing time.
If a child has an item that is applicable to what we are studying in
class, he/she may ask me ahead of time if they can bring it to share.
Otherwise, toys and other items should be left at home. If a child is
caught playing with anything during instructional time, I will
confiscate it until you, "The Parent" picks it up.

Birthdays: A Birthday sheet is included in "The South Elementary"
folder. It needs to be filled out and returned to class ASAP. We will
celebrate your child's birthday as close to the real day as possible.
Summer birthday's are celebrated as a half birthday. You may send a
store bought treat for the class, if you wish. :)

Thank you once again, for entrusting me as your child's teacher and advocate. I'm looking forward to a fantastic year!!!

About Me

I was born in Cedar City. I attended East Elementary, Cedar Jr. High and Cedar High School. I was President of the German Club and Drill Mistress for Mohey Tawa. I was First Attendant to Miss Iron County and Miss SUU. I am the Mother of three children, Rene', Kurtis and Jonathan, who are all married, and have given me fourteen grandchildren. Nine girls, and five boys. I graduated from S.U.U. with a Major in Elementary Ed. and minors in Reading and Music. I have my ESL endorsement. This is my twenty-third year of teaching. I taught music for one year, then first grade for six years, and this is my Sixteenth year in 4th grade. I play four musical instruments: Piano, organ, guitar, and flute! I taught piano lessons from the age of seventeen, until I started teaching school. I'm our church organist and choir pianist. Music is my passion;)